Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
61.2 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Palmdale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Los Angeles to Palmdale covers 61.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Because the trip is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes the Hollywood Freeway, the Golden State Freeway, and the CA 14 Truck route to transition from the Pacific Coast region into the high desert. This drive is straightforward and efficient, serving as a practical connection rather than a multi-day expedition.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 14 Truck | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 15.5 mi | 19m |
| Golden State Freeway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Sierra Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| I 5 Truck | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North Broadway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Palmdale, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn right onto North Broadway
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 101
Continue on US 101
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
Continue on US 6 Hist
Turn right onto CA 138
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.9 and 55.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Angeles Forest Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.07 one way
$28.13 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.50 | $28.99 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.88 | $29.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.51 | $27.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.57 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Palmdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
52°F
San Fernando, CA
31 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This 61.2-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of high-traffic urban freeways before transitioning onto the CA 14 Truck route. Expect a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.5 miles on the CA 14. While the drive is functional and direct, you should be prepared for the transition from densely populated coastal corridors to the more open terrain of the high desert. It is a no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, technical backroads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 14 Truck and Hollywood Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.9 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.5 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.1 miles (CA 14 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Angeles, CA and Palmdale, CA, road signs point toward Lancaster, Angeles Forest Highway and Pearblossom Highway.
Lancaster
Angeles Forest Highway
Pearblossom Highway
“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
Founded 1886
Palmdale is a city in the far north of Los Angeles County in the Antelope Valley region of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 61.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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